Politics

Today, Joseph R. Biden Jr. was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States and Kamala Harris was the first woman to be sworn in as vice president. The event itself was historic and barrier-breaking, but also was kept in line with as many traditions as possible in our “new normal” world in which we’re battling the COVID-19 pandemic as well as increasing threats of domestic terrorism.

It’s the day of Joe Biden’s inauguration and a time for change across America as a new administration enters the White House and Biden becomes the 46th president of the United States. In a recent positive change, major news networks ABC, CBS, NBC, and CNN have all appointed women to lead as White House correspondents in their coverage of the Biden administration.

According to multiple sources, Biden intends to revoke the permit of the controversial Keystone XL Pipeline on his first day in office. Over two months since the conclusion of the 2020 US election, which have been filled with unfounded accusations of election fraud, misinformation, and have seen the storming of the Capitol, Biden is set to be inaugurated as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, January 20.

President-elect Joe Biden continues to make history with his cabinet picks, as he has just announced his nomination for assistant health secretary. Biden has chosen Dr. Rachel Levine, who, if confirmed, will be the first openly transgender federal official to be confirmed by the US Senate.

A fire in a nearby homeless encampment prompted the evacuation of the Biden Inauguration rehearsal at the US Capitol. A propane tank is said to have exploded at the homeless camp and multiple other propane tanks laying around are being investigated.

In the wake of Twitter’s permanent suspension of President Trump last week, Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Republican Congresswoman from Georgia, was temporarily suspended from the social media platform this past Sunday. Greene’s account was suspended after she reportedly broke rules that Twitter had recently put in place after the violent events at the Capitol two weeks ago.

A week after pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol, concerns are rising about the possibility of further violence in the coming weeks. As inauguration day approaches, security is being heightened across the nation in preparation for armed protests, which are anticipated through Wednesday.

President-elect Joe Biden has picked Jaime Harrison as the new Democratic National Committee chairman. Harrison is the former democratic U.S. Senate candidate from South Carolina who lost to GOP Senator Lindsey Graham. Harrison remained fairly even in the polls with Graham, who had never faced a well-funded democratic opponent until Harrison.

As the Senate will not return until January 19th, the second impeachment trial of President Trump will overlap with the beginning of President-elect Joe Biden’s term. Despite a Democratic push to reconvene the Senate immediately to begin the trial after Trump’s impeachment Wednesday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell stated that the body will not return until the day before Biden’s inauguration.

Yesterday, former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder was charged for his role in the Flint water scandal of 2014. Snyder was Governor at the time, when the contaminated water crisis led to an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, a type of pneumonia caused by legionella bacteria. Twelve people died as a result of the regional outbreak.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has told Minority Leader Schumer’s staff on Wednesday that Senate Republicans will not allow the Senate to gather early in order to allow an impeachment trial while President Trump is still in office.

In light of the coronavirus restrictions, a primetime celebrity-filled special for Joe Biden’s inauguration is being planned by his team. The special will be hosted by Tom Hanks and will air from 8:30 PM to 10:00 PM on primetime networks including NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, and MSNBC on January 20th. The performers will include Demi Lovato, Jon Bon Jovi, Justin Timberlake, and Ant Clemons.